After my dahlias have bloomed is there any special way the old dried blooms should be cut from plant or should they be left on the plant? |
The part of the flower that's left after the petals fall can soak up water, either from rain or from overhead sprinkling. When they become mushy they can begin to rot, which might travel down the rest of the stem. To be on the safe side cut the spent flowers off, along with a portion of the stem it's attached to. This will encourage the plant to produce additional flowers, and will remove the potential for the invasion of disease organisms. |